Etihad to take first A380 delivery Thursday; first 787 Saturday

ATW
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways is scheduled to take delivery of its first Airbus A380 Thursday during ceremonies in Hamburg. The aircraft is one of 10 A380s the airline has on order and will include an ultra-premium, two-person “Residence” class along with first-class “Apartments.”

Etihad revealed its A380 cabin configuration in May, modeling it on the hotel/corporate jet market.

Located on the forward upper deck of the A380, the self-contained Residence holds two people and comprises a private living room, double bedroom, bathroom and shower. The product, which also includes a Savoy-trained personal butler, will cost $20,000 one-way between Abu Dhabi and London for single- or double-occupancy. Effectively a fourth class, only one Residence will be fitted on each A380, measuring 125 sq. ft.

On the opposite side of the A380 forward fuselage, there is a shower and changing room for first-class Apartment guests. Each A380 will be configured with nine 39 sq. ft. Apartments (six will have interconnecting doors), arranged either side of a central aisle to give more space back to the passenger. They are equipped with a separate arm chair and bed, a private mini bar and a sliding door.

A lounge/meeting area will be positioned between the first- and business-class and will be shared by both cabins. To make way for a central seating area, the lounge is equipped with a sideways galley. This will require additional cabin floor reinforcement.

Some of Etihad’s 71 Boeing 787s, the first of which will be delivered Saturday from Seattle, will also have a separate first-class “Suite” product and all will feature business-class “Studios” in a 1-2-1 layout.

The A380 and 787 will both be fitted with economy Smart Seats, featuring a fixed wing that projects from the headrest for passengers to sleep against. The A380 will hold 417 economy passengers in a 3-4-3 layout, while the 787 will carry 199 in a 3-3-3 configuration.

The A380’s first route will be London Heathrow from Dec. 27, followed by ultra long-haul routes to destinations including Melbourne, New York, Paris Charles de Gaulle and Sydney. The 787-9s and -10s—which will be delivered from 2014-23 and configured with two- and three-class cabins—will ultimately be deployed to 40 destinations including Düsseldorf, Mumbai and Washington.

 First A380 delivery ceremonies at Hamburg Thursday will be attended by Etihad CEO James Hogan and Airbus president and CEO Fabrice Brégier.